Small kitchen remodel project can be intimidating. With these tips, you will learn how to maximize space efficiency and fit everything you need! keep reading!
Having a large enough room gives you more freedom and possibilities, but fitting everything you need in a practical, beautiful way into a tiny space provides a different level of satisfaction.
To make out of each square centimeter as much as possible, minimize clutter, and maximize efficiency.
These things help you achieve this goal: efficient kitchen layout, implementing space-saving, room-enhancing solutions, and utilizing smart organization ideas.
Let’s discuss each of them below:
Space-Saving Tips for a Small Kitchen
The key to a great small kitchen layout is to ensure that it meets all your needs: it provides enough storage required for food, cookware, tableware, and appliances, and allows free workflow for preparation, cooking, and washing.
The great thing about small kitchens is that you can easily access all areas making the process efficient. However, try to place your cleaning, cooking, and prep zones separately, and leave plenty of floor space in between, if possible.
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Efficient Layout Design for a Small Kitchen
When deciding on the small kitchen layout type, there are several options: One-wall, L-shape, U-shape, and Galley.
The most efficient layout is the one-wall kitchen for small spaces since all of the appliances and fixtures are located next to each other.
This eliminates some of the clearance space requirements that would be relevant if the appliances were positioned in front of each other, like in the Gelley kitchen.
In a one-wall kitchen, you don’t have weird corner cabinets too, which are difficult to access if the space is minimal.
To design for a small space, start with the basics – things you absolutely need to have: fridge, sink, range/stove, and some prep space in between the sink and the range. The rest is pretty much negotiable.
On today’s market there are appliances of all different sizes. However, you need to stick with the smallest ones, unless you have some special requirements that absolutely need to be met.
Generally speaking, 60cm is a basic module size, upon which you can build your kitchen layout sizes. You can use half of that module in some cases, where needed.
Let’s see how to fit those basic requirements into each type of layout:
As you see from the diagrams, if the width of your kitchen space is not more than 1800cm, you can only choose between one-wall and L-shaped kitchens.
As a general rule, you want to have at least 120cm in front of your kitchen cabinets to be able to freely move around, open doors, and access the storage spaces and appliances.
When planning a layout for a small kitchen, every centimeter matters. Make sure you measure the existing space very precisely.
You also need to remember that drainage can dictate where features can go. Thus, be well aware of where existing drainage and vent pipes are. Our article will guide you step by step to measure your space like an interior designer.
Transformable furniture
Use the magic of transformable/foldable furniture. This tip will help you use the same space in many different ways. A 90-degree movable bar is a great example. You can take the concept one step further and add extra shelves to it.
A sliding countertop which can be used for prepping is a great way to save space while you are not using the countertop.
The second great tip is to use the vertical space as much as possible, but do not crowd the space. You can extend the cabinetry up to the ceiling. On upper shelves, you can store items that are not used every day.
Kitchen remodel checklist
DIY kitchen remodel projects can be intimidating. If it’s your first project, you might feel overwhelmed and anxious. I have created this kitchen remodel checklist, which you can share with anyone and track the progress of the project.
Simply, duplicate this page and edit it as you wish: check and uncheck boxes, add notes, and add items.
If you find this resource helpful, write a review!
Tall cabinets with a pantry, refrigerator or a wall oven are efficient but try to keep enough countertop area. This is where open shelving can help.
This beautiful green kitchen is a great example of a designer maximizing the utilization of a small space with design techniques. Let’s break down exactly how:
First of all, she chose a straight (one-wall) layout: that 1.20m of free space becomes multifunctional: it can be used to move around while cooking, or while sitting for a meal at the table (and not cooking).
Secondly, she planned all the basic functions (storing, washing, cooking) at an arms-length distance, thus the space is very efficient: you do not need to move around too much.
I don’t see enough space next to the kitchen sink for draining the dishes, but I assume she would suggest using some smart solutions for this function, such as an over-the-sink dish drain.
Thirdly, she designed just enough worktop space for prepping (the wider countertop space right next to the stove).
Fourth, she extended the cabinetry up to the ceiling, thus maximizing the storage capacity. However, the space does not feel crowdy, because she keeps a good balance between open and closed shelving.
This beautiful pink kitchen was designed by Line Design Studio . Here the designer maximizes the storage capacity with the up-to-the-ceiling cabinets on the left while keeping the space on the front wall empty. Placing the cabinets, and the light as a focal point is another trick for visually enhancing the space.
Small kitchen remodel: make it look bigger
The first tip on this list is to use color intentionally. Everyone knows that white is a space-enhancing color and it makes your space look wider and brighter. This tip will take you to another level if combined with proper lighting.
However, if you are brave and need something really bold, you can also try two other approaches instead of Classic White: go for light pastel colors or play with the contrast of dark and white. Both can have space-enhancing effects.
However, keep your material selection and color palette to a minimum. Avoid busy patterns and overwhelming colors, as they will further divide the space and make it look even smaller and cluttered.
The second space-enhancing tip is to scale down items as much as you can. go for smaller kitchen appliances rather than larger ones: coffee machine, stovetop, mixer, smaller pots or pans, and general cookware, or you name it. This will create a visual effect and the space will look larger than it actually is.
The Third tip that will help you enlarge your space visually is to use vertical and horizontal lines strategically, meaning that if your space is high and narrow, use horizontal lines to make it look wider. However, if your space is low, using vertical lines will help you make it look higher.
In this adorable minimalistic white kitchen, Denise Lee created vertical lines that make the space look taller. However, since the room is quite narrow as well, adding brown horizontal lines helped her increase the width visually.
The trick is that our eye perceives spaces longer and can follow them without interruption. Both, horizontal (the brown wooden shelves) and vertical (cabinet doors, tiling) create a desirable effect in this case.
Small kitchen remodel: organization tips
Organizing your small kitchen is crucially important. The more clutter you have on your countertops, the smaller your kitchen will look. However, the kitchen needs to be functional, right? It means that you should have all the necessary items in place.
However, it is always a good idea to ask yourself from time to time: “do I really need this?”. Chances are, you have items that you no longer use. Give it to someone else who will find a better use for them.
Having said that, let’s move on to several smart organization ideas that will help you organize your space and make it look as clean as possible while keeping it perfectly functional.
Tip #1 is to change your mindset about drawers. Do not accept the idea that drawers exist to be cluttered. If everything you own has its designated place where it can fit perfectly, then all you need to do is put everything in its place.
Use cabinet organizers to help keep everything in its place. You can go for drawer dividers for lids, utensils, spices, etc.
The main point here is to plan your items and drawers by zones. For example, it’s better to keep your spice drawer or organizer next to the range, where the spices will be needed most of the time.
Plan the storage for pens, pots, and tableware where it will be easy to access them while setting up a table or unloading them from a dishwasher/sink.
Tip#2 on the list is to maximize the use of your wall surface with hangers. This is an extremely efficient way to organize and showcase your beautiful copper pans, pots, and cookware. Make sure, the items look always clean and shiny, and go for higher quality materials for your hanger rail.
Tip #3: use sink or stove covers to add to your prep space. These two are really good solutions that will help you use the same space for different purposes.
Tip #4 is to choose pull-out lower drawers on the lower parts of the kitchen rather than cabinets. This will help you access every item easily.
In conclusion, to make the most out of your small kitchen, start with planning the proper layout that accommodates the basic requirements in the beginning, and then go further from that, if possible. To elevate the look of your small space, use space-saving and room-enhancing tips. Smartly organize your items in order to minimize clutter and maximize the space-efficiency.
A small kitchen does not necessarily mean an impractical or less beautiful kitchen.
If you want to know more about kitchen layout planning, check my next article here
Small kitchen inspiration photos
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